LAS VEGAS — Quality Training Centers (QTC) has launched an online calculator designed to estimate the potential income individuals could miss while delaying a career change into the skilled trades.

The QTC Cost Calculator asks users to enter their current monthly income, age, how long they have considered changing careers and the trade program they are considering. It then compares current income with estimated starting earnings in the selected trade.

The tool provides estimated missed-income figures across daily, monthly and five-year periods.

For example, a 28-year-old earning $30,000 annually who spends nine months considering a career change to electrical could miss an estimated $15,003 in potential additional income. The calculation accounts for both the delay period and the time required to complete training.

“People often look at the cost of training and ask, ‘Can I afford to go to school?’” said Chris Roth, co-owner and operator of Quality Training Centers. “We wanted people to look at the other side of the equation, too. If you want to learn a skilled trade, there can also be a financial cost to staying where you are. The calculator gives people a way to put some numbers around that decision.”

The calculator uses estimated starting salaries of $57,300 for HVAC careers and $61,590 for electrical careers. The figures are based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data.

Training time also factors into the calculator’s estimates. QTC’s HVAC, electrical and refrigeration programs are designed to prepare students for entry-level opportunities through hands-on training in approximately three months.

Nevada’s skilled trades market also shows continued demand. The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation projects electrician employment will grow 14.1% and HVAC mechanic and installer employment will grow 14.6% from 2022 to 2032.

Nationally, construction employers reported approximately 305,000 job openings in June 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That figure was up 36% from the previous year.

The U.S. Department of Education also reports a long-term workforce gap in construction and other skilled trades. According to the department, two workers enter the workforce for every five who retire, with up to 2.1 million skilled-trade jobs potentially going unfilled by 2030.

The QTC Trade School Cost Calculator is available for free.

Note: The calculator is intended for informational and illustrative purposes only. Salary projections, earnings estimates, and career timelines are based on publicly available data and QTC graduate outcomes and are not guarantees of employment or future earnings. Individual results vary based on location, employer, experience, certifications and market conditions.